Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving holiday with the entire country. The act of being thankful is not a one-day celebration for every person who understands the height which God has rescued them from. We have so much to be thankful for daily. Let us reflect on what it means when we say thank you Jesus for saving us. As we read about God’s broken heart in Genesis chapter 6 it’s very clear that God had some faith in humans to choose his path for their lives. God seems to have chosen humankind and believed they would choose his path instead of Satan’s schemes. Unfortunately, in Genesis 6:5-9 God accepted the fact that humanity had lost their way to his original purpose for their lives and decided there was no repair for humankind and resolved that destruction was the only solution.
God then went to his second plan which was to choose a nation as a model to show the world how to live under his Lordship, the Israelites also disobeyed God which led God to revert to his original plan extending grace to all mankind (Romans 11:28-32, John 3:16-21, John 14 & 15, etc..). This time through Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for the world, he is giving humans an opportunity to choose or reject him (John 6:35, John 11:25-26, John 8:12, John 14:6-7, etc.). Instead of him choosing us, he has given humanity the free will to choose him through Jesus Christ our high priest who took our sins and became the ultimate sacrifice for us. Jesus physically took our punishment in hope we would respond to God’s gift of eternal life (Revelation 21:1-7, 22:12-14, etc.). God is warning and pleading with us about the consequences of our choice and provides us a way out from heading to the lake of fire which is the second death that all humankind will have to face on Judgement Day (Revelation 20: 11-15). Jesus came down from heaven to take our place on the cross without any guarantee we would respond to God’s love (Romans 5:6-9, John 3:19-21). The freedom from fear that Jesus is offering us is beyond words. We were God’s enemy. Now through Jesus Christ, the entire world has the gift of restoration and reconciliation to our creator available to us (Romans 5:9-11). Each person’s choices could hinder him/her from accessing the gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness and deliverance. I know life often throws things to make us feel defeated because the enemy of this world, Satan, is working hard to skew God’s promises to make us feel and believe He does not care. Jesus warns us that the final hour of judgment is coming and those who stand firm will be rewarded (Matthew 24:13, James 1:12, Revelation 21:7, etc.). When Satan was hurl down, he came with one goal to wage war and to deceive the whole world to the lake of fire with him (Revelation 12:812, 20:11-15). That is why I am striving until the day I see Jesus to surrender my life as an act of gratitude in thanksgiving to warn the world about Satan’s scheme to prevent them from entering through the gate, Jesus Christ, to eternal life (John 14:6-7). Let us fix our eyes on Jesus who surrendered his kingdom and became obedient to death for our sins so that we can choose to be free from Satan’s scheme (Philippians 2:5-11). As we celebrate with friends and families, let us remember all that we are and have, are given to us by God! Let us joyfully with thanksgiving celebrate the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ that God has made available to the entire human race! Happy Thanksgiving!
